College students collect lawn signs and shirts at a promotional tour bus from ResponsibleOhio, a pro-marijuana legalization group, at Miami University, Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, in Oxford, Ohio. A ballot proposal before Ohio voters this fall would be the first in the Midwest to take marijuana use and sales from illegal to legal for both personal and medical use in a single vote.

1. Animals

A Washington ballot initiative backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and various animal-rights groups would make it a state crime to buy, sell or trade products coming from certain wild animals. The ban targets endangered species of elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, pangolins, marine turtles, sharks and rays. In Texas, a ballot measure would create a constitutional right for people to hunt, fish and “harvest wildlife.” Associated Press file photo

2. Governors

The race to succeed term-limited Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, features two candidates — Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway and Republican businessman Matt Bevin — who have taken contrasting positions over same-sex marriage and Medicaid expansion.

In the only other gubernatorial race, Republican Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has spent $2.7 million on his re-election bid, easily outdoing the $3,000 spent by Democratic nominee Robert Gray, a truck driver. Photo by Jenny Sevcik/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP

3. Marijuana

The battle over marijuana shifts to Ohio, where a ballot initiative would legalize the recreational use of pot by adults 21 and older and allow for medicinal use by others. The initiative would authorize 10 particular facilities to grow marijuana. A separate measure, referred to the ballot by legislators, seeks to nullify the marijuana proposal by adopting a ban on constitutional amendments that create an economic monopoly. John Minchillo, The Associated Press

In Maine, voters are considering an $85 million bond issue for roads, bridges and other modes of transportation. If approved, it’s projected to draw more than $120 million of additional federal funding. James Quigg via The Associated Press

5. Housing

San Francisco voters will decide whether to limit the “sharing economy” services in which people rent rooms directly from others through Internet bookings. A ballot measure would cap short-term housing rentals at 75 days a year and require Internet hosting companies such as San Francisco-based Airbnb to pull listings that violate the limit. Airbnb has poured millions of dollars into the opposition campaign. Ben Margot, The Associated Press

6. Gay rights

Houston voters will decide whether to grant nondiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people. The referendum on a city ordinance originally passed last year has drawn support from the White House and Apple Inc. Opponents include a coalition of conservative pastors who contend it would infringe on their religious beliefs against homosexuality. Associated Press file photo

7. Mayors

More than 300 cities will hold mayoral elections, including the nation’s fourth- and fifth-largest cities of Houston and Philadelphia. In Houston’s nonpartisan election, seven candidates are seeking to succeed term-limited Mayor Annise Parker. In Philadelphia, where Democrats hold a 7-to-1 voter registration edge over Republicans, Democratic nominee Jim Kenney E is the favorite to succeed term-limited Mayor Michael Nutter.

8. Legislators

Three states have general legislative elections, though at least 10 others will hold special elections to fill vacant seats.

The biggest battle is for control of the Virginia Senate, where Republicans have a 21-19 advantage. A gain of one seat by Democrats could flip control because Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam would serve as the tiebreaker. The high stakes have attracted large campaign contributions. The nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project says three particularly competitive state Senate races all are on track to break the prior record for the state’s most expensive legislative contest. Steve Helber, The Associated Press